Engine exhaust snubber and spark arrester



June 13, 19501 R. L. HOYLE ET A1.

ENGINE EXHAUST SNUBBER AND SPARK ARRESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug.3l, 1948 lllll..

June 13, 1950 R. l.. HoYLE Er Al.

ENGINE EXHAUST SNUBBER AND SPARK ARRESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.31, 1948 Patented June 13,A 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINEEXHAUST SNUBBER AND SPARK ARRESTER Application August 31, 1948, SerialNo.- 47,118

14 Claims.

This invention relates to silencers or snubbers for the exhaust gases ofinternal combustion engines and particularly to such equipment forindustrial engines.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a compact butefcient snubber having at least two silencing sections. Another objectis to so design the unit that it will serve as a spark suppressor orarrester as well as a silencer. A further object is to incorporate meansin such equipment to cool and wash the gases as they pass through thesame.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the device of Fig. 1 taken at theline 2-'2 thereof;

Fig. 3' is a detailed sectional view taken at the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a combined snubber and sparkarrester incorporating certain alternative forms of structural elements;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line '5--6 of Fig. 4.

The installation of a snubber for a large stationary industrial engineis frequently most conveniently done by providing a suitable foundationand standing the snubber, which is generally cylindrical in form, uponthe foundation in vertical position. The engine exhaust pipe is thenconnected to an inlet fitting provided on the side of the snubber andthe snubber tail pipe is con-A nected to the top of the unit to carrythe gases away to a point where they may be exhausted to the atmosphere.In many instances, the most convenient location of the inlet iitting isnear the top of the snubber. Additionally, it is an almost universalrule of design that the snubber must be as small as possible to minimizecost and space requirements.

The snubber herein described is designed to meet these requirements.

The device illustrated in Figs. l to 3 comprises a housing consisting ofa cylindrical side Wall i, top wall 2, and a bottom wall 3. An inletfitting 4, having a ange 5 for connection of the engine exhaust pipethereto, is welded in a suitable opening in side wall i near the top ofthe snubber. This ntting opens into the interior of the snubber. Asimilar outlet fitting 6 having a flange 'I for connection of the tailpipe thereto is welded in an opening centered in top wall 2. A conduit 8extends downwardly from outlet ttilng 6 con- 2 ccntrically withcylindrical side wall I and terminates short of bottom wall 3.

A transverse partition 9 is located approximately midway between the topand bottom of the snubber and divides the interior thereof into twosections IU and II. Partition 9 has a central opening in which a collarI2 having a diameter substantially greater than that of conduit 8 iswelded. A perforated conduit I3 extends upwardly from collar I2 andterminates short of top Wall 2. Suitable braces I4 may be employed tohold the upper end of conduit I3 rmly in position. The portion ofconduit 8 which extends beyond partition 9 is perforated.

A deflection plate or baffle I5 extends from side wall I to conduit I3'at inlet tting 4 for a short distance above and below the iitting. Thisdeflection plate may be slightly curved, as shown, and is adapted todeiiect the gas stream passing into the snubber through inlet fitting 4and cause it to flow circumferentially within section I0. Four smallflat or slightly curved deiiection plates I6 are circumferentiallyspaced in the annular passageway between conduit 8 and collar I2. Theseelements are suitably fastened to cone duit 8 and collar I2, as bywelding, and serve to support thev conduit. They are inclined, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, the direction of inclination being correlated with theposition of deflection plate I5 for the purposes more fully pointed outbelow.

The device thus described is a complete unit capable of eiiicientlysmoothing the flow of exhaust gases to prevent noise. The device alsooperates as a spark suppressor.

The path of the gases flowing through the snubber is indicated byarrows. The severely pulsating exhaust gases enter through inlet ntting4 and are immediately deiiected to one side and the gases are thuscaused to whirl within the annular space of section IIJ between conduitI3 and side wall I. These gases then iiow into the annular passagewaybetween the conduit 8 and conduit I3, partly through the perforations inthe latter and partly through the open upper end of this conduit. Thispartially smoothed stream of gases continues spirally downwardly throughthe area of deiiection plates I6 which are inclined in a direction andto an extent to permit the continued spiral iiow and, if desired, toincrease the circumferential component of now. Due to the inertia of thegases, they continue to now at high velocity in a spiral path withinsection II and pass into conduit 8 through perforations Il which aredistributed in theA portion of conduit 8 which extends into section Ilof the snubber, or a portion of the gases may enter the conduit throughthe open lower extremity thereof. The gas stream is then conductedupwardly through conduit 8 to the tail pipe and eventually to theatmosphere. y

The centrifugal action of the gases in both sections Hl and Il of thesnubber produce two benecial effects. greatest immediately adjacent thewall I of the snubber and decreases progressively toward the center ofthe unit. This condition aids the natural tendency toward equalizationof pressures within the expansion space of sections l and Il with theresult that the flow of the gases is greatlyI smoothed as they passsuccessively through the two sections of the snubber. This relativelysmoothly flowing stream is not capable of causing noise as it isexhausted to the atmosphere.

The second advantageous effect of the centrifugal action of the gasesresults from the fact that any solid particles entrained in the exhaustgases pass to the outer fringes of flow at the surface of side wall I.They repeatedly strike against this wall and such friable materials ascarbon are broken up into fine particles. These small pieces of carbonare generally incandescent and would constitute a fire hazard ifexhausted to the atmosphere. The breaking up of these pieces cools thematerial and renders the sparks harmless.

Under certain conditions, explosive mixtures of gases are present in theexhaust system, including the snubber itself and explosions result whichare not only destructive of the entire exhaust equipment but which mayalso start a nre in the vicinity o the explosion. Explosions due tothese causes may be avoided by reducing the temperature of the exhaustgases below the ignition point as soon as possible after they areexpelled from the engine. lThis may be done effectively by introducingwater into the gas stream in such a manner that the gases are almostinstantaneously cooled. For this purpose, a spray head or atomizer I8may be installed in top wall 2 of the snubber of Fig. 1. The nozzle fordelivering the finely divided cooling water into the snubber is arrangedto project the spray continuously into the exhaust gas stream as itemerges from inlet iitting 4 to enter section lil of the unit. Sparksare quenched and the hot gases quickly convert the water to steam,losing the heat of vaporization in doing so, whereby the temperature ofthe gases is substantially reduced.

If the quantity of water introduced into the gas stream does not exceedthe amount which is converted into steam by the heat of the gases, it isunnecessary to make provision for the removal of liquid water. However,in order to achieve the maximum possible cooling ei'ect, it is generallydesirable to introduce a small excess of water. It then becomesnecessary to remove the water particles 'which become entrained in therapidly flowing gas stream to prevent the spraying of dirty water fromthe tail pipe. This separation is accomplished in the snubber unit as aresult of the centrifugal action which throws the heavier waterparticles to the side wall l. This action may take place in bothsections l@ and ll,`the water separated in section l0 passing throughdrain holes i9 to section Il. All of the water thus separated from thegases ilows to the bottom 0i the unit and suitable means for drainingthis water from the snubber may be provided where plug 20 is shown.

' When an excess of water is introduced into the The pressure of thegases is. l

device, a scrubbing action supplements the centrifugal action in theremoval of solid and liquid particles. The water takes on a load of suchparticles as the spray passes through the gases and as the separatedwater flows down the side walls of the unit. Y, k

lCertain alternative forms of structural elements of the snubber areillustrated in Figs. 4

' to 6. In this device, parts similar to those of the snubber of Fig. 1are similarly numbered.

In place of the deection plate l5 of the device of Fig. 1, inlet tting4a is arranged to direct the incoming stream of exhaust gasestangentially into section ID. In place of the small inclined deflectionplates I6 of Fig. 1, a spiral vane lBa is arranged within the annulusbetween conduits 3 and I3 to provide a spiral passageway for the gasespassing from section l0 to section Il. An additional partition 2i isarranged as a false bottom in spaced relation to bottom wall 3 to form aYtrap or reservoir 22. A plurality of spaced openings 23 aiord limitedconnection between the volume of -section Il and trap 22. A suitablehandhole 24, having a cover 25, is provided for access to trap 22.

As in the case of the device of Figs. 1 to 3, the apparatus of Fig. 4may be operated either with or without water. In either event, solid orliquid particles carried into the snubber by the exhaust gases will passinto trap 22 through openings 23 and may be removed from the trap as theaccumulations require. Other forms of trap may be employed. If desired,a separate trap may be provided for section l0 to remove a portion ofthe particles while the gases are passing through that section.Operation of the device of Fig. 4 is otherwise similar to that of Fig.1.

The modified forms of elements shown in the device of Fig. 4 may beemployed in the device of Fig. l. However, the combination illustratedin Fig. l is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Invention is claimed as follows:

1. A snubber for pulsating gases comprising a housing having acylindrical side wall and first and second end walls, said side wallhaving an inlet opening therein near the rst end wall and said rstend-wall having a centrally located outletopening therein, a transversepartition intermediate said end walls dividing the volume of saidhousing into two sections, said partition having a centrally locatedopening therein, an openended perforated conduit connecting with saidopening in said partition and extending toward said first end wall butstopping short thereof, a second open-ended conduit having a smallerdiameter than said first-mentioned conduit extending from said outletopening through said iirst-mentioned conduit toward said second end wallbut stopping short thereof, the portion of said second conduit betweensaid partition and said second end wall being perforated, and means forcausing the gases to whirl within the housing after passing through saidinlet opening.

2. A snubber in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for causingthe gases to whirl comprises a baille extending from the side walladjacent the inlet opening to the rst-mentioned conduit so arranged inthe path of the gas stream that the gases are deflected in a sidewisedirection.

3. A snubber in accordance with claim 2 and including a plurality ofsimilarly oriented circumferentially spaced inclined deection platesradially arranged within the annular passageway between thefirst-mentioned conduit and the second conduit near the partition.

4. A snubber in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for causingthe gases to whirl comprises an inlet conduit arranged tangentially withrespect to the side walls of the housing and opening into the housing atthe inlet opening.

5. A snubber in accordance with claim 4 and including a plurality ofsimilarly oriented circumferentially spaced inclined deflection platesradially arranged within the annular passageway between thefirst-mentioned conduit and the second conduit near the partition.

6. A snubber in accordance with claim 1 and including a spiral vanearranged between the first-mentioned conduit and the second conduit.

7. A snubber in accordance with claim 6 in which the means for causingthe gases to whirl comprises an inlet conduit arranged tangentially withrespect to the side walls of the housing and opening into the housing atthe inlet opening.

8. A snubber in accordance with claim 1 and including a secondtransverse partition spaced between the end of the second conduit andthe second end wall to form a dust trap enclosure, said second partitionhaving spaced peripheral openings therein.

9. A combined snubber and spark arrester comprising a housing having acylindrical side wall and iirst and second end walls, said side wallhaving an inlet opening therein near the rst end wall and said first endwall having a centrally located outlet opening therein, a transversepartition intermediate said end walls dividing the volume of saidhousing into two sections, said partition having a centrally locatedopening therein, an open-ended perforated conduit connecting with saidopening in said partition and extending toward said rst end wall butstopping short thereof, a second open-ended conduit having a smallerdiameter than said first-mentioned conduit extending from said outletopening through said rst-mentioned conduit toward said second end Wallbut stopping short thereof, the portion of said second conduit betweensaid partition and said second end wall being perforated, and means forinjecting a spray of water into the gases as they enter the housing.

l0. A combined snubber and spark arrester in accordance with claim 9wherein said means for injecting a spray of water into the gasescomprises a spray head mounted in the first end wall and adapted to beconnected to a continuous supply of water under pressure.

1l. A combined snubber and spark arrester comprising a housing having acylindrical side wall and rst and second end walls, said side wallhaving an inlet opening therein near the first end wall and said firstend Wall having a, centrally located outlet opening therein, atransverse partition intermediate said end walls dividing the volume ofsaid housing into two sections, said partition having a centrallylocated opening therein, an open-ended perforated conduit connectingwith said opening in said partition and extending toward said iirst endwall but stopping short thereof, a second open-ended conduit having asmaller diameter than said first-mentioned conduit extending from saidoutlet opening through said first-mentioned conduit toward said secondend wall but stopping short thereof, the portion of said second conduitbetween said partition and said second end wall being perforated, abaiiie extending from the side wall adjacent the inlet opening to theiirst-mentioned conduit so arranged in the path of the gas stream thatthe gases are deected in a sidewise direction, a pluraiity of similarlyoriented circumferentially spaced inclined deflection plates radiallyarranged within the annular passageway between the firstmentionedconduit and the second conduit near the partition, and a spray headmounted in the first end wall and adapted to be connected to acontinuous supply of water under pressure and inject a spray of waterinto the gases as they enter the housing.

12. A combined snubber and spark arrester in accordance with claim 11and including a second transverse partition spaced between the end ofthe second conduit and the second end wall to form a dust trapenclosure, said second partition having spaced peripheral openingstherein.

13, A combined snubber and spark arrester comprising a housing having acylindrical side wall and rst and second end walls, said side wallhaving an inlet opening therein near the rst end wall and said first endwall having a centrally located outlet opening therein, a transversepartition intermediate said end walls dividing the volume of saidhousing into two sections, said partition having a centrally locatedopening therein, an open-ended perforated conduit connecting with saidopening in said partition and extending toward said iirst end wall butstopping short thereof, a second open-ended conduit having a smallerdiameter than said first-mentioned conduit extending from said outletopening through said first-mentioned conduit toward said second end Wallbut stopping short thereof, the portion of said second conduit betweensaid partition and said second end wall being perforated, an inletconduit arranged tangentially with respect to the side Walls of thehousing and opening into the housing at the inlet opening, a spiral vanearranged between the first-mentioned conduit and the second conduit, anda spray head mounted in the first end wall and adapted to be connectedto a continuous supply of water under pressure and inject a spray ofwater into the gases as they enter the housing.

14. A combined snubber and spark arrester in accordance with claim 13and including a second transverse partition spaced between the end ofthe second conduit and the second end wall to form a dust trapenclosure, said second partition having spaced peripheral openingstherein.

ROBERT L. HOYLE.

ARTHUR P. GALLAGHER.

ALFRED S. CHIPLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,048 Bretney Jan. 29, 1889710,605 Osbourne et al. Oct. 7, 1902 1,573,135 Bourne et al Feb. 16,1925 1,754,126 Stievenart Apr. 8, 1930 2,392,872 Wolfe Jan. 15, 1946

